Sealing device and method for applying grease thereto

Abstract

A sealing device is disposed between an inner member and an outer member that rotate relative to each other to seal a gap between the inner member and the outer member of the sealing device, and includes a first sealing member including a cylindrical part to be mounted to the outer member, and an annular part that extends radially inward from the cylindrical part toward the inner member; and a second sealing member including a sleeve to be mounted to the inner member, and a flange that extends radially outward from the sleeve, the flange facing the annular part of the first sealing member. The first sealing member includes at least three axial lips made from an elastic material that extends from the annular part toward the flange of the second sealing member. An axial lip disposed radially outer side has an interference that is greater than that of an axial lip disposed radially inner side.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sealing device disposed between an inner member and an outer member that rotate relative to each other, and that acts to seal a gap between the inner member and the outer member, the sealing device comprising:
 a first sealing member comprising a cylindrical part to be mounted to the outer member, and an annular part that extends radially inward from the cylindrical part toward the inner member; and 
 a second sealing member comprising a sleeve to be mounted to the inner member, and a flange that extends radially outward from the sleeve, the flange facing the annular part of the first sealing member, 
 the first sealing member comprising at least three axial lips made from an elastic material that extends from the annular part toward a surface of the flange that faces the annular part, 
 wherein the at least three axial lips comprise an outermost lip, an intermediate lip, and an innermost lip, 
 a height of the outermost lip is greater than a height of the intermediate lip such that an interference between the outermost lip and the second sealing member is greater than an interference between the intermediate lip and the second sealing member, 
 the height of the intermediate lip is greater than a height of the innermost lip such that the interference between the intermediate lip and the second sealing member is greater than an interference between the innermost lip and the second sealing member. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for applying grease to an inner peripheral surface of each of the at least three axial lips of the sealing device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 supplying the grease to the inner peripheral surface of each of the at least three axial lips from radially inside the at least three axial lips. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein supplying the grease to the inner peripheral surface of each of the at least three axial lips comprises spraying drops of the grease from a position that is radially inside each of the at least three axial lips, thereby applying the grease to the inner peripheral surface of each of the at least three axial lips simultaneously.